Letters - September 26, 2016

Handout photo issued by EDF Energy of the concrete process trial pour at the Hinkley Point C site in January 2015, as the energy giant is set to make its long-awaited final investment decision on the planned nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, ending doubts over the massive �18 billion project. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday July 28, 2016. The French firm's board is meeting in Paris on Thursday and is expected to give the go-ahead for the first nuclear power station to be built in the UK for a generation. See PA story ENERGY Nuclear. Photo credit should read: Geoff Pagotto/EDF Energy/PA Wire
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Tim Gavell’s article in Business (Gazette, September 16) mentions new nuclear plans for another site after Hinkley. Ministers pay lip service to the need for a mix of power generation technologies, but they have been cutting investment in renewables while handing a blank cheque to nuclear. Offshore wind costs are, in contrast to nuclear, falling and could offer cheaper low carbon power.

Nuclear is hugely expensive – a 30 billion subsidy will be handed to the French in addition to what we customers pay. It’s dangerous with cancer clusters, nuclear accidents like Fukushima, and still no safe way to store nuclear waste.

We are burdening future generations with an environmental and social disaster that cannot be compensated for with the expensive electricity the plant will produce.

Instead of putting Britain’s consumers in hock for a lifetime to EDF, politicians should be more imaginative and invest in renewables, including tidal power with a view to improving reliability and reducing costs.

Energy provision in the UK is based on the false premise that private sector competition between members of a cartel underwrites efficiency. What is needed is a decentralised, publicly-owned, realistic energy approach putting consumers not shareholders centre stage.

Royston Jones

Beryl Avenue

Anchorsholme

ALLOTMENTS

No break-ins on my allotment plot

I had an allotment plot on Lawson Road for 20 years (Gazette, September 19). I only ever experienced one break-in, that turned out to be a vagrant seeking shelter.

One or two other plots suffered vandalism and theft. I took the precaution of concealing some mouse traps on my door. I never found any fingers, but no break ins.

May I suggest some badger traps accompanied with large notices (beware hidden traps) could be a deterrent.

Kevin Gooder

Clinton Avenue

Blackpool

CULTURE

We all need more libraries, not fewer

One of the greatest abilities of the human race is to communicate through writing and reading.

Today, in the name of austerity, libraries are being closed or staffed by volunteers.

However willing they are, they are not qualified librarians.

For several decades now, I have argued for more and extended, libraries, incorporating modern technology. Libraries with children’s corners.

Reading is a first step on the road to life and culture, education and work.

Let us have more libraries and, yes, adult education centres.

The money is there.

Better books, not bombs.

Brian Ormondroyd

address supplied

POLITICS

Has George only just started thinking?

It has been announced that George Osborne is to set up a “think-tank” for the Northern Powerhouse.

Does that mean that there has been no thinking going on for the last two years?

Alan Disberry

via email

politics

Corbyn addresses our real concerns

The BBC has often been criticised for being too sympathetic to the Left. I think there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

All that the right-wing media has wanted to do is downgrade and besmirch Jeremy Corbyn, who is more popular than ever. Now former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has stuck the knife in.

I contend Mr Corbyn will win the leadership contest by a massive majority vote. Why? He is addressing the real concerns of millions of British people. The 99 per cent of people who are not the wealthiest; workers on low wages; the unemployed; the homeless, the dispossessed and the young.

The BBC does tend to support, and give credence to, the one per cent of wealthy entrepreneurs and the wealthy products that it has created itself, only now looking at their huge salaries.

Andrew Marr was patronising to Jeremy Corbyn in a recent TV interview, however he (Corbyn) calmly deflected everything Marr could throw at him with the demeanour of a gentleman.

Peter Asquith-Cowen

via email

CRIME

My heart goes out to Jane’s family

The article in Friday’s Gazette (September 16) re Jane Clough’s family and what they are still going through after her murder. So sad it should be allowed by this man.

I have written to you because Jane treated me at the Victoria Hospital A & E one Sunday night and what a lovely girl, I will always remember that smile.

Mr Armstrong

Cherry Tree Court

Marton

CHARITY

Thanks to all who helped the lifeboats

On behalf of Blackpool Lifeboat Station we would like to say a big thank you to management, staff and customers of Asda, Cherry Tree Road, Marton who helped raise £500.17 at a recent collection in the store.